More info on Poet Laureates

The new NC state poet laureate is: Cathy Smith Bowers. She teaches at the Queens University at Charlotte. Watch her installation ceremony.

Current State Poets Laureate: http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/poets/current.html
U.S. Poet Laureate: Kay Ryan

Although Maya Angelou is most certainly one of the most famous African American poets in our history, she has never been appointed as the official U.S. Poet Laureate. She selected as poet laureate of Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration. In spite of never holding the official title, Maya Angelou remains one of the most well loved and respected poets in the U.S.

Poet Laureate:
A poet laureate is a poet recognized by a government as the official poet of a country, state or city. The term laureate is related to the laurel wreath, which would crown the head of great writers or poets. It is a symbol of Apollo, the Greek god of wisdom. Thus the title of poet laureate infers the poet is exceptionally skilled and wise.

The tradition of recognizing a poet laureate first began in England. A term prior to the reign of James I would have been “king’s poet.” This reflects earlier traditions of a poet or minstrel that might work only at the pleasure of the king and compose poems that would specifically honor the king. Having a minstrel, storyteller or poet, is much older than the monarchies of England. Any nobleman in most European countries would have had designated poets to help mark special occasions and provide entertainment.

The first “official” poet laureate of England was Ben Johnson, named so by James I in 1617. Other interesting names in the list of poet laureates include John Dryden, William Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Cecil Day-Lewis. The current poet laureate of England is Andrew Motion. England has never had a female poet laureate, though Wales recognizes Gwyneth Lewis as its National Poet.

In the US, the US Librarian of Congress appoints the poet laureate. This position began in 1937, though before, many states appointed a poet laureate, and many still do. Some cities, like San Francisco, even appoint a poet laureate. Currently, the US poet laureate is Donald Hall, but this changes yearly since the appointment is annual.

A poet laureate in the US may still serve for more than one year, but many fulfill only a year’s term, for which they are paid a stipend of 35,000 US dollars (USD). The stipend in these economic times does little to significantly improve the economic circumstances of the poet.